Bowls in NZ strong Wind

Level 3 - Skips Experience 

As the end of the 2021 Bowls Season comes to a close we find a lot of Streaming from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Last week, the New Zealand`s Wellington LBC finished it`s Angus Hotel Summer Series of Lawn Bowls with the "Finals Weekend" live streaming (April 24/25). This weekend (May 8th) Bowls South Africa`s Men`s National Championship will be played (May 8- 16) and online streaming.  With all Northern Hemisphere Countries missing the 2020 Season due to the CoVid Pandemic and it is in doubt whether we will be even having a "2021 Season of Lawn Bowls" other than some club practices or game's  streaming.

As I attempt to address various problems or aspects of Lawn Bowls which are often overlooked, the presence of wind can be a major concern for lawn bowlers who are Maritime countries. With Lawn Bowls in New Brunswick sometimes being unique to how the clubhouse is position on a windy day. Yes, sometimes with wind expected on the day of play, we will change the direction of play to allow for the clubhouse to shield the wind and give the best opportunity for a good game to participants.

 Someone once said to me "The bowls are heavy, no way the wind will move a bowl enough to effect the game or ability to do a good delivery". What is most important is not the weight of the bowl but the narrow running surface of a bowl. A mild gale will allow a bowl to find more "Bias" than we expect from that bowl under normal wind conditions.

End 1 - Jack roll

Wellington LBC members and other New Zealand lawn bowlers are no stranger to strong winds during Championships games.

From Youtube`s  Bowls Wellington Finals Day - Men's Pairs Final - 2021 - YouTube and screen capture stop action, we can see from the first Jack roll (photo left) that Lead Scott`s delivery (insert) is directly along the center Line but with the strong cross wind; the jack arrives a good 4 feet down wind. (No the jack does not have a bias)

A great video of playing with a strong wind, even to the point of waiting at the mat for the wind to ease up a bit before rolling the bowl. In a previous blog, where the wind was from back to front it was pointed out that not only does the wind effect the bowl but also affects the balance of the bowler during delivery.

   The previous two blogs discussed the "Percentage of Success" in strategy and decisions. We will see here and in this video that strategy changes as bowlers use the wind for the delivery and make decisions of shot type different from a normal lawn bowl game.

From the photo (right) one can see how the bowls get schattered by a crosswind, as even the best players fight the wind to find the proper line. Some players who have several bowls will choose a heavier bowl on windy days and even a tighter bias.

One will be surprise by how a player may even change their style of delivery to maintain balance in a "Crosswind". (as we see in the photo below) Watching Lawn bowls games streaming, we discover that a good skip will ask for a bias which bowls into the wind and uses the wind to finish the bias into the jack. 

So, with a "Strong CrossWind", we find one side of the rink being played in both directions. A "backhand" up the green and "forehand" back down. Unless a block has prevented that side of the green to be used. It is certain that the green speeds will affect how much the wind affects the bowl. Because the wind may seem to have more effect on the bowl during the bowl`s final moments when the bowl seems to never stops.

Game strategy become a "Heavy Bowl" Strategy because you want your bowl to have done it`s work before it begins to slow and is more affected by the wind. In the 3 photos (Below) we see the skip`s decision to bowl downwind of the head and attempt to raise his bowl to  shot. Luck is sometime important in Bowls, and even more on a windy day where many surprises may occur.

In the photo below, as the lead`s bowls of the first end were all bowled "Upwind" and be scatter around the head; the skip went to the mat and decided to bowl a "Downwind" to raise his frontal bowl to a position of shot. (Photo #1). In talking about luck and the wind, we see from Photo #2 that the bowl actually bounced of the intended bowl and hit the 2nd bowl creating two shots (Photo #3). Often you will see in Lawn Bowls a player give an apologetic comment after such lucky wicks.

 Why is this a good choice of bowl ?. First, the effect of a wind applies most to the bowl during it final stage of delivery. As the bowl slows and begins it bias so also the effect of the wind applies. This is a good shot because it need a heavy weight delivery which then removes a large part of the wind's effect on the bowl.  Without that extra weight the "Raise bowl" would never have happen. 

The black bowl in photo #3 is the opponent skip`s first bowl after the previous skip had raised his bowls. Noticing the label location on the black bowl we see that the delivery was up wind and a draw around the front bowl to the jack, but the bowl finished not only short but also quite far "downwind" because of the strong wind. 

This is a great video to learn how to play with a strong wind. Although many New Zealand games may show similar game conditions as part of Lawn Bowls Strategy.

Playing your "Success Percentage"

As we watch Professional Golf we often see the golfer with his small notebook checking his guided experience from previous games on the same golf course. Strange, that we seldom see a Lawn Bowler taking notes about the playing surface or his opponents.

No, I don t have a book of information about greens or my opponents but I do have a photographic memory. Many bowlers can remember the unique aspects of a green and even remember certain opponents. For example, now 15 years later I remember Claude as a "2 by 2" Skip. He could draw and be exactly on line by 2

 bowls width (one bowl error each side of jack) and his weight was always good or missed by "2 feet" (short or over). He never threw a runner although a "3 yard overdraw" was common when as skip he needed a "takeout".  The same for greens. I remember Green 7 had a "Swing" at 3/4 maximun length on the right side (from Clubhouse)

When you are watching a game; do you simply watch and wait to see what happens to the bowl that was just delivered?. Or are you  in the head of the player on the mat as he decides his shot. Myself as a spectator of a club game, I must use Binoculars and see the bowls in the head and analysis the best expected shot. Then I question if the bowler on the mat is attempting a "draw" or "over draw".  

To watch a good game, streaming or at the club; I must get into the game with each bowl delivery. The following Screenshots are capture from the "Australian 2020 Burleigh Heads Clubs Men`s Singles Final" which is till on Youtube. In the 2nd end of the above video a similar type of shot existed ( a wifi missed signal does not show the bowl delivery but you can see the white bowl was move to the right pass the jack) and the bowler, who tried a takeout (tapback a bowl combination) missed and almost gave up 3 shots.  For the above Screenshot , check the video above (9th or 10 end) and see the decision of the photo and the result of yellow (Crawford Linton of Burleigh Head LBC)

In the above photo we see a Red bowl which is "Danger" and four yellow bowl positions which will give a result or a "Successful Percentage" of 4 bowls. The draw of "1" or "2" or "3" will knock up for shot or knock out the shot bowl ("1" as a near miss of right). The "Red bowl is dangerous as the near miss of the white bowl will move it toward the jack and also move the jack for 3 shots of the opponent.  

Most players would see the best shot as a removal of the white bowl. But with a "4" bowl shot "Success" if you try the "takeout Shot" and you just missing the line (full yellow circle) or have a light kiss of the yellow to roll to 

the white; but with the danger of  a miss and moving the jack ("Red" explained above); the actual shot which should be tried is line #"1" or #"2" as a miss on the line means "no damage". Missing the line inside (on the right), changes nothing; and a miss on the outside (left) will remove the white bowl if you know you are a "Two Bowl Success" player.

Are you a "Two Bowl Success" player?  First thing about a decisions which you are making on a delivery shot is just how much a "Chance" do you have to making the shot. If you sometimes miss your delivery weight by "two feet" and your delivery line is sometimes off by "two bowls " at the head. You are a "Two Bowl Success  player" if your bowl can be either one bowl left and/or one bowl right of the tried shot. (one bowl away)

 Above, I suggested the best shot was choice "2" as you attempt to raise your bowl for shot because I am a "two bowl Success" player. (with a 80 percent success). Know your "success percentage" is best done by a practice where you are setting up a shot like in the photo and trying at least 10 bowl. 

The above screenshot photo shows a "Four Bowl Success" with a 2 foot overdraw. This decision to use the bowl #"2" shot; actually removes the danger of giving up 3 points with a bad delivery and leave you with an almost certain raise of one of the yellow bowls to become shot if  your weight is not too heavy. (two feet over). 

Sometimes a successful shot is considered as a "Lucky Shot" when discussed later in the clubhouse. Although you know your thoughts and the value of a "4 Bowl Success" decision; sometimes a "Lucky Shot" does occur.  The above "4 Bowl Success" photo has a "Lucky Shot" possibility. Yes, you would like to remove the white bowl but accept that such an attempt may result in failure and give away 3 points if the jack is moved as the white bowl is send toward the jack.  However, there is another way the white bowl can be removed but would never be tried because it is "1/2 bowl Success". If you were to aim a heavy bowl at the "white bowl" under the diagram number 1, and with the same backhand delivery it is possible to hit the edge of the yellow bowl "#1" and knock the white bowl to the left giving 2 shots as the "shot bowl" is removed (kicked to the left). There is a greater chance of failure than success on this shot and so a "1/2 Success" shot..  However, as a "Lucky Shot" you could miss your attempted "Bowl #2" decided shot attempt and just "Lucky" do such a nick or "near miss" on the far right yellow bowl and perform the suggested removal of the "Shot Bowl". Yes this is a "lucky Shot" as you must miss by at least 3 bowls width.

I remember a game in 2019 (last year I bowl because of Covid) InterClub Pairs and before the skips last (of 4 bowls) bowl was played. I had a bowl setup of a easy "Five Bowl Success" on the green which would result in burning the jack. As we had all the back bowls, such a "respot" of the jack meant that the opponent skip would have to draw to a "respotted" jack. He did but over played his bowl and with it in the ditch we collected 5 shots and the best 3rd game prize money.

The meaning of "5 Bowl Success" is that if I tried the shot I could miss 2 bowls on either side (left or right of the "Bowl" and still get the jack knocked out of play and respotted. As the opponent had 4 shots tight on the jack, a "frontal" runner into the bowls around the jack would not have "Move the jack" much. But, if I was to play a "wick" of the frontal bowls on the right of the head; I would throw the jack out to the left. The shot was successful as we collected 5 of the 8 bowls played. But most important was the shot was a "Five Bowl Success" with about 75 percent success. (If the runner bowl had hit square center on one of the bowls, it would have simply drive it straight back and not rebound toward the head and jack).  Shot was successful and put us into the money at the end of the day. The following week at another club I was approach by the opponent and her husband (a good skip); whom wanted to discuss the shot. There was a standing joke, as I often would explain my shot to the opponent skip when  I was going to play such a shot. (a rebound from frontal bowls 4 feet right of the jack) Think it is easlier to explain before the shot than attempt to explain later why it was not just a "Lucky shot". 

(This blog of 04/25/2010 was edited on Oct 8, 2022 to explain "Lucky Shots" possibility)

Percentage of Success on Bowl Delivery

 

As I update this blog in 2026, I am surprise that this video of the 2016 World Bowls Two Bowls Triples is still available.  Christchurch, New Zealand  welcomed world players and as the top two teams meet for the Gold Medal Game, the teams are given a 15 practice roll-ups. And the commentators are discuss the fact that Australia had not won this title since 1966.

The Australian team of  Barry Lester, Mark Casey, skipped by Aron Sherriff  will be meeting the English team of Jamie Walker, Andy Knapper  skipped by Robert Pexton after both teams having hard teams to beat to get here.

Sometimes, after a game, we hear during a skip discussion that he felt that there was a low possibility of making a  "Runner shot". I use this video her to explain both "Success Percentage" and "Failure Success" (although in overtime there is not need for Failure Success) Three aspects of a shot decision are in the mind of a skip as he evaluates his options.  His own success with this type of shot, the  "Percentage of Success" and the damage or consequence of missing the "Shot".

This Gold Medal game goes into a over-time as the 14 - 14 score shows how Australia set up a 'Catch Bowl' before attempting a takeout shot for the win. Using this game in this blog to show great decision making as Australian's  Skip Aron Sherriff of Australia goes to the mat to play his final bowl,

 At left we see the head of the overtime end of the 2016 World Bowls 2 bowl Triple Championship.  as the skips go to the mat and England is holding the winning point with a toucher within inches of the jack (This video is still on youtube).

We can see three possible deliveries for Aron. 1) A forehand "lightly over weight" draw to touch and remove the shot bowl or knock the jack back a few inches to Australia`s bowl (yellow) behind.  

However, England`s last bowl played by mate was to leave a block quite far up the green against this option.  2) A backhand draw to the jack with the danger of moving the jack to the English bowls rather than back to their own yellow bowl. (Aron during most of the play has been favoring his Forehand draw) and 3) A runner bowl to remove the England "Shot bowl". This shot would require a very fine cut (1/8 ot 1/4 cut on the shot bowl).

 This, the 3rd option, is the choice which Aron Sherriff decided to do and if succwssful, win or lose the game. As we see with the photo below, the bowl passes within a fraction of an inch for a miss and England wins the Gold.

 Here, I will explain what I meant by the term "Bowls percentage of Success" as I calculate the "Percentage of Success" The photo to the right is an example of a "1/8 Bowls" Touch for a Successful shot. Meaning, to pass the frontal bowls and hit the "Shot Bowl" allows for only 1/8" while a fontal 1/4" touch will roll the jack back to their bowl.. Remember that a fast runner does not have a lot of bias since bias applies when the bowl begins to slow. This shot can only be done with a perfect forehand overdraw. Yes, Aron has made many a "perfect shot", but in this shot his delivery is too heavy and the bowl stayed straight longer and missed contact.  I would say that the shot has a low Bowl "Percentage of Success" and only with a Forehand delivery. The percentage is increased as the delivery is slower ("over-weight") delivery.

Once, during a club championship final, I made a 1/8 bowl runner shot like this and my partner said to me "If you can make those Shots, you can make anything." However, my decision to try the shot was base not upon the "Success Percentage" but that the shot had a High level of  "Successful Miss" and of course was not my last end or bowl.  Let me explain the difference. 

As you know, sometimes, we must give up the point, if we do try a shot it is best to not be successful if that  "Miss" shot changes the head.. In the above example, by Aron Sherriff , his missed shot did not cause any damage to the head and if a bit off (1/4 bowl) it would have moved the jack back to his bowl.

Sometimes we are in the habit of thinking about previous games played with the same shot required. Because England still had a bowl to play, it is possible that Aron has thought of his shot as if there were still ends to play. I say this because of the weight of his shot and the " Percentage of Success" as beng Low. Pressure of the moment may have introduced the idea that with a "Miss" there is no danger of removal of the Australian bowl (yellow) which is second. This would be the skip's thought if there were still more ends to be played. (a thought which probably was done many times in Aron's Bowls career)

It is an opportunity to explain a High percentage of  "A successful Miss", a thought expected  in a game with more ends to play,  The miss here meant the lost of the game.  However, looking at the same "removal" of the "shot Bowl".  

Another important fact is that  many skips usually only throw with success one type of runner although I have seen a couple athletics throwing with equal success both handed Runners.  Maybe because  a "Forehand Runner" is easlier as a "Backhand Runner requires the bowler to be stepping away from the "Center Line" when throwing.(My opinion). Some great "Take-out Artists" like Ryan Bester has success on both hands.

The shot which Aron Sherriff tried was the "Forehand Runner" and as we see on the screenshot photo (left)  where his bowl is stopped; the runner (yellow) bowl passed very close to the shot bowl;  Aron just missed by an inch or so. A gutty shot for the Gold Medal of  the 2016 World Bowls. But the better players can and do make these hard and "impossible" shots.

This blog, which was started several months ago, and now being finished was important to finish as seldom do I get good examples of important information like Percentage of Success or Failure.  

I am late finishing this blog because I was here in Canada watching the  2020 Australian NSW Bowls Club Championship Singles Final. Here in Canada, to watch 6pm game from Australia or New Zealand requires a early morning  3am viewing. Watching such great bowls game online is all that we Lawn Bowls addicts have with the CoVid shutdown of Canadian and Americian Lawn Bowls Clubs.

From March 15 to 19, 2021 we saw the 2020 Australian NSW Bowls Club Championship streaming. was worth the early morning online. ( from March 15 to 19, 2021) Have not missed much of the Australian or New Zealand streaming this year, this 2020  Singles Final  was worth the early morning viewing.

In this game,  Corey Wedlock of Warilla  is trailing at 29 - 30 as he and Ben Twist of St Johns Park go to the mat for the final end of play.  Ben`s first bowl is a toucher and stops 5 or 6 inches in front  of the jack. Corey on his 2nd bowls decides that with the 29 - 30 score, and such nice bowls; the head  needs being opened a bit. His runner takes the toucher and jack to the ditch with a seperation of less than a foot.  (Game over as the toucher stayed with the jack). But I was impressed that Corey threw such a good "Backhand Runner".

The purpose of this blog is not to be an "ArmChair Critic" as often seem to be the reviews of good games. As anyone who has played singles know that a tough part of "Singles" is being alone on the green and at the end game there is a lot of pressure. Was this shot before the last bowl a sign of pressure ??. 

This was a great game,  played yesterday March 19, 2021; and can still be seen on NSW Bowls  . At one point Corey was behind 15 to 26 and came back to a 28 - 28 tie.  So, not to critize but show what is meant by "Bowls Success" or "Precentage of Success" I use this game to comment as in the final end of this game we see clearly the point of "Percentage of Success"as explained as to the number of bowls which the shot can be missed and still be quite an acceptable shot.

From the screenshot (right) we see Corey`s runner bowl (stopped) just prior to contact. It was a "Forehand Runner" which in this case has only one "Bowl of Success" as the contact with the 2nd bowl from this angle offer no level of success. The angle at which the forehand bow arrives in the head is from left to right. Greater "Success" is seen with a "Backhand Runner" which approaches the head right to left. 

On the "Backhand Runner" we see that there are three "Bowls (large) of Success" as even a narrow far right "hit" on the 2nd shot bowl will cause the head to be changed. When putting this in percentage I would say "has a 300 % of success". (No such option on Forehand)

We see that a runner on the backhand causes a difference approach and different results. Above, I mention that some players can only throw a forehand runner. In this case you must know your actual success at throwing the runner. A backhand runner is more difficult.

 

Even a backhand runner hitting the 2nd bowl square on will bounce a bit left and could move the shot bowl left and finally take shot. However, a runner is not the best decision here. 

Also, as Corey had last bowl; his decision of a runner could have been saved for the last bowl and the other bowls used to prepare for such a runner.  Very probably  the quick decision of Corey was more the Pressure of a really great game which all players feels at the final end-game.